Timeline

Lui Shou Kwan (Lu Shoukun) (呂壽琨) was born in Guangzhou in 1919. His strong interest in Chinese paintings was inherited from his father, Lui Ts’an Ming, a reputable scholar-painter who also owned an antique shop. However, Lui often regarded himself as a self-taught painter who built up his painting techniques and extensive knowledge about traditional Chinese paintings by constantly studying and copying the classical works largely provided by his father’s antique shop. He moved to Hong Kong in 1948. He worked for the Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company as an inspector for 17 years. Meanwhile, he continued to paint and frequently contributed articles on art and reviews on art exhibitions to local art-related publications. He published his first book “A Study of Chinese Paintings” in 1956. By constantly learning from various Chinese and Western ancient masters and contemporary artists diligently, he gradually developed his unique style of abstract ink painting. Lui began to teach Chinese ink painting at the Department of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong and the Department of Extra-Mural Studies at Chinese University in 1966. He emphasized on the originality and individuality of an artist by advocating the concepts of spirituality and inspiration of traditional Chinese paintings. He has inspired innumerable ink artists such as Wucius Wong, Irene Chou and Leung Kui Ting. Largely because of his contributions, Hong Kong became the birthplace of a new style of modern Chinese ink painting. The accomplishment of a series of the highly original and unmistakable Zen painting in the 1960s marked a new milestone of the artist’s career. They were characterized by free calligraphic brushstrokes and ink washes as well as the recurrence of Taoist and Buddhist motifs such as lotus and flame. Lui successfully pushed the boundaries of Chinese ink painting. His paintings demonstrate universality and spirituality, enabling them to have timeless appeal.

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• De Yong Museum, San Francisco, CA, USA
• Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong
• M. H. de Young Museum, Avery Brundage Foundation, San Francisco, USA
• Museu Luis de Camoes, Macau
• National Historical Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
• The Ashmoleum Museum, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
• The Victoria & Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
• The Castle Gallery, Nottingham, United Kingdom
• The City Art Gallery, Bristol, United Kingdom